Gelechiidae
Encyclopedia
Gelechiidae is a family of moth
s commonly referred to as twirler moths or gelechiid moths. They are the namesake family of the huge and little-studied superfamily
Gelechioidea
, and the Gelechiidae's relationships with and delimitation against their relatives have been subject to considerable dispute. These are generally very small moths with narrow, fringed wings. The larva
e of most species feed internally on various parts of their host plant
s, sometimes causing gall
s. Douglas-fir
(Pseudotsuga) is a host plant common to many species
of the family, particularly of the genus
Chionodes
which is consequently more diverse in North America
than usual for Gelechioidea.
By the late 20th century, over 500 genera with altogether more than 4,500 species
were placed here, with about 650 known from North America alone. While these figures are certainly outdated due to the many of reevaluations of Gelechioidea and new descriptions of twirler moths, they still serve to give an impression of the enormous biodiversity
contained in this important family.
Being abundant, fecund plant-eaters, many species are agricultural
pests, including:
It is the voracious habits of their larva
e that make twirler moths suitable for biological control of invasive plants. The Spotted Knapweed Seedhead Moth (Metzneria paucipunctella) for example is used to control Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea maculosa) in North America
. But even more subtle plant-host interactions have been discovered in these moths. The Guatemalan Potato Moth (Tecia solanivora) may become a harmful pest. But if it is not entirely eradicated from a potato
field, but allowed to infest some plants (up to around 20% in one study), the overall harvest will increase, and include an increased amount of extremely large tubers.
(case-bearers) and Oecophoridae
(concealer moths) – the systematics
of the Gelechiidae are far less contentious. The "Deoclonidae", sometimes treated as a full gelechioid family, seem to be nothing other than a specialized offshoot from within the Gelechiidae, and are here included in the present family; some authors differ, however, and ally at least some of these genera with the Autostichinae
and/or Symmocidae
. On the other hand, the Schistonoeidae (scavenger moths) are preliminarily considered a distinct family here.
Of the subfamilies traditionally accepted for the Gelechiidae, only three are maintained here pending further information; at least one other, the Physoptilinae, may also be valid. But numerous genera of twirler moths – including most of the former "Deoclonidae" and for the time being also the proposed Physoptilinae – are of undetermined affiliation
at present. The subfamilies, along with some notable genera, are:
Subfamily Dichomeridinae
(tentatively including Chelariinae, which might belong in Gelechiinae or Pexicopiinae)
Subfamily Gelechiinae (including Anacampsinae, Anomologinae, Apatetrinae)
Subfamily Pexicopiinae
Genera incertae sedis
(including Brachmiinae, Physoptilinae)
Moth
A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...
s commonly referred to as twirler moths or gelechiid moths. They are the namesake family of the huge and little-studied superfamily
Taxonomic rank
In biological classification, rank is the level in a taxonomic hierarchy. Examples of taxonomic ranks are species, genus, family, and class. Each rank subsumes under it a number of less general categories...
Gelechioidea
Gelechioidea
| name = Curved-horn moths| image = Xylorycta assimilis.jpg| image_width = 240px| image_caption = Adult Xylorycta assimilis of the Xyloryctidae, photographed in Aranda Note prominent "horns" and long antennae| regnum = Animalia| phylum = Arthropoda...
, and the Gelechiidae's relationships with and delimitation against their relatives have been subject to considerable dispute. These are generally very small moths with narrow, fringed wings. The larva
Larva
A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...
e of most species feed internally on various parts of their host plant
Plant
Plants are living organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. Precise definitions of the kingdom vary, but as the term is used here, plants include familiar organisms such as trees, flowers, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae. The group is also called green plants or...
s, sometimes causing gall
Gall
Galls or cecidia are outgrowths on the surface of lifeforms caused by invasion by other lifeforms, such as parasites or bacterial infection. Plant galls are abnormal outgrowths of plant tissues and can be caused by various parasites, from fungi and bacteria, to insects and mites...
s. Douglas-fir
Douglas-fir
Douglas-fir is one of the English common names for evergreen coniferous trees of the genus Pseudotsuga in the family Pinaceae. Other common names include Douglas tree, and Oregon pine. There are five species, two in western North America, one in Mexico, and two in eastern Asia...
(Pseudotsuga) is a host plant common to many species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of the family, particularly of the genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Chionodes
Chionodes
Chionodes is a genus of moths of the family Gelechiidae. Members of this group can be found in most parts of the world. Many species of this genus utilize Douglas-fir as a host plant for their larvae.-Species:Species in this genus include:...
which is consequently more diverse in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
than usual for Gelechioidea.
By the late 20th century, over 500 genera with altogether more than 4,500 species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
were placed here, with about 650 known from North America alone. While these figures are certainly outdated due to the many of reevaluations of Gelechioidea and new descriptions of twirler moths, they still serve to give an impression of the enormous biodiversity
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
contained in this important family.
Being abundant, fecund plant-eaters, many species are agricultural
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
pests, including:
- Anacampsis sarcitella – Pack Moth
- Anarsia lineatellaAnarsia lineatellaThe Peach Twig Borer is a moth of the Gelechiidae family. It is commonly found in Europe, but was introduced to California in the 1880s.The wingspan is 11–14 mm...
– Peach Twig Borer - Aproaerema modicella – Groundnut Leafminer
- Keiferia lycopersicellaKeiferia lycopersicellaThe Tomato Pinworm is a moth of the Gelechiidae family. It is found in warm areas in Mexico, California, Texas, Georgia, Florida, Hawaii, Cuba, Haiti and the Bahamas. It has also been reported from greenhouses in Delaware, Mississippi, Missouri, Pennsylvania and Virginia.The wingspan is 9-12 mm...
– Tomato Pinworm - Pectinophora gossypiella – Pink Bollworm
- Phthorimaea operculellaPhthorimaea operculellaThe Potato tuber moth , also known as the tobacco splitworm, is a major pest on potatoes in New Zealand and South Africa. It has a world-wide distribution.The body length is about 10mm and the wingspan is about 12mm...
– Potato Tuber Moth, Tobacco Splitworm - Sitotroga cerealellaSitotroga cerealellaThe Angoumois Grain Moth is a species of gelechioid moth. It is the type species of its genus Sitotroga, placed in the subfamily Pexicopiinae of the twirler moth family...
– Angoumois Grain Moth - Tecia solanivora (Povolny, 1973) – Guatemalan Potato Moth, Central American Potato Tuber Moth
- Tuta absolutaTuta absolutaTuta absoluta is a species of moth in family Gelechiidae known by the common names tomato leafminer and South American tomato moth...
– Tomato Leafminer, South American Tomato Moth
It is the voracious habits of their larva
Larva
A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...
e that make twirler moths suitable for biological control of invasive plants. The Spotted Knapweed Seedhead Moth (Metzneria paucipunctella) for example is used to control Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea maculosa) in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. But even more subtle plant-host interactions have been discovered in these moths. The Guatemalan Potato Moth (Tecia solanivora) may become a harmful pest. But if it is not entirely eradicated from a potato
Potato
The potato is a starchy, tuberous crop from the perennial Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae family . The word potato may refer to the plant itself as well as the edible tuber. In the region of the Andes, there are some other closely related cultivated potato species...
field, but allowed to infest some plants (up to around 20% in one study), the overall harvest will increase, and include an increased amount of extremely large tubers.
Taxonomy and systematics
Compared to the other massively diverse Gelechioidea families – ColeophoridaeColeophoridae
| name = Case-bearers| image = Coleophoridae-01 .jpg| image_width = 240px| image_caption = Adult of an unidentified case-bearer species| regnum = Animalia| phylum = Arthropoda| classis = Insecta| ordo = Lepidoptera| superfamilia = Gelechioidea...
(case-bearers) and Oecophoridae
Oecophoridae
Oecophoridae is a family of small moths in the superfamily Gelechioidea. The phylogeny and systematics of gelechoid moths are still not fully resolved, and the circumscription of the Oecophoridae is strongly affected by this....
(concealer moths) – the systematics
Systematics
Biological systematics is the study of the diversification of terrestrial life, both past and present, and the relationships among living things through time. Relationships are visualized as evolutionary trees...
of the Gelechiidae are far less contentious. The "Deoclonidae", sometimes treated as a full gelechioid family, seem to be nothing other than a specialized offshoot from within the Gelechiidae, and are here included in the present family; some authors differ, however, and ally at least some of these genera with the Autostichinae
Autostichinae
The Autostichinae are a subfamily of moths in the superfamily Gelechioidea. Like their relatives therein, their exact relationships are not yet very well resolved...
and/or Symmocidae
Symmocidae
The Symmocidae are a family of moths in the superfamily Gelechioidea. These small moths are found mainly in the Palearctic and Africa.They have traditionally been considered close relatives of the Blastobasidae, where they were sometimes included as subfamily Symmocinae...
. On the other hand, the Schistonoeidae (scavenger moths) are preliminarily considered a distinct family here.
Of the subfamilies traditionally accepted for the Gelechiidae, only three are maintained here pending further information; at least one other, the Physoptilinae, may also be valid. But numerous genera of twirler moths – including most of the former "Deoclonidae" and for the time being also the proposed Physoptilinae – are of undetermined affiliation
Incertae sedis
, is a term used to define a taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Uncertainty at specific taxonomic levels is attributed by , , and similar terms.-Examples:*The fossil plant Paradinandra suecica could not be assigned to any...
at present. The subfamilies, along with some notable genera, are:
Subfamily Dichomeridinae
Dichomeridinae
Dichomeridinae is a subfamily of moths in the Gelechiidae family.-Taxonomy and systematics:Tentatively including Chelariinae, which might belong in Gelechiinae or Pexicopiinae)* Acompsia* Ananarsia* Anaptilora...
(tentatively including Chelariinae, which might belong in Gelechiinae or Pexicopiinae)
- AcompsiaAcompsiaAcompsia is a genus of the twirler moth family . Though it has once been assigned to the proposed subfamily "Anacampsinae" , it is generally placed in the Dichomeridinae...
- AnanarsiaAnanarsiaAnanarsia is a genus of moth in the family Gelechiidae....
- AnaptiloraAnaptiloraAnaptilora is a moth genus. It is here placed in subfamily Dichomeridinae of family Gelechiidae, though some authors assign it to the Autostichinae which belong elsewhere in the Gelechioidea....
(not Gelechiidae?) - AnarsiaAnarsiaAnarsia is a genus of moth in the family Gelechiidae.-Species:The genus consists of the following species:*Anarsia anisodonta*Anarsia aspera Park, 1995*Anarsia bilbainella*Anarsia centrospila*Anarsia choana Park, 1995...
- AnasphaltisAnasphaltisAnasphaltis is a genus of moth in the family Gelechiidae....
- BagdadiaBagdadiaBagdadia is a genus of moth in the family Gelechiidae....
- BrachmiaBrachmiaBrachmia is a genus of the twirler moth family . Among these, it is sometimes placed in the subfamily Dichomeridinae. Other authors have used it as type genus of a distinct subfamily Brachmiinae...
- BrachyacmaBrachyacmaBrachyacma is a genus of moth in the family Gelechiidae....
- CapidentaliaCapidentaliaCapidentalia is a genus of moth in the family Gelechiidae....
- DendrophiliaDendrophilia (moth)Dendrophilia is a genus of moth in the family Gelechiidae.-Species:*Subgenus Dendrophilia**Dendrophilia acris Park, 1995**Dendrophilia albidella **Dendrophilia caraganella Ponomarenko, 1993...
- DichomerisDichomerisDichomeris is a genus of moth in the family Gelechiidae.-Selected species:*Dichomeris acuminatus *Dichomeris aenigmatica *Dichomeris alacella*Dichomeris barbella...
- EmpalactisEmpalactisEmpalactis is a genus of moth in the family Gelechiidae....
- FaristeniaFaristeniaFaristenia is a genus of moth in the family Gelechiidae....
- HelcystogrammaHelcystogrammaHelcystogramma is a genus of moth in the family Gelechiidae.-Distribution and diversity:The genus has an almost world-wide distribution and includes 93 species.-Selected species:*Helcystogramma amethystium...
- HolcophoraHolcophoraHolcophora is a genus of moth in the family Gelechiidae....
- HyodectisHyodectisHyodectis is a genus of moth in the family Gelechiidae....
- HypatimaHypatimaHypatima is a genus of the twirler moth family . Among these, it belongs to a distinct lineage, which is variously treated as tribe Chelariini in subfamilies Dichomeridinae , Gelechiinae, or even Pexicopiinae, and historically was considered a subfamily in its own right, Chelariinae...
(= Chelaria) - MyconitaMyconitaMyconita is a genus of moth in the family Gelechiidae....
- NeofacultaNeofacultaNeofaculta is a genus of moth in the family Gelechiidae. It consists of the following species:*Neofaculta ericetella*Neofaculta infernella-External links:*...
- NothrisNothrisNothris is a genus of moth in the family Gelechiidae....
- ParalidaParalidaParalida is a genus of moth in the family Gelechiidae....
- ScodesScodesScodes is a genus of moth in the family Gelechiidae....
- StreniastisStreniastisStreniastis is a genus of moth in the family Gelechiidae....
- SymbolistisSymbolistisSymbolistis is a genus of moth in the family Gelechiidae....
- SyndesmicaSyndesmicaSyndesmica is a moth genus. It is here placed in subfamily Dichomeridinae of family Gelechiidae, though some authors assign it to the Autostichinae which belong elsewhere in the Gelechioidea....
(not Gelechiidae?) - XerometraXerometraXerometra is a genus of moth in the family Gelechiidae....
Subfamily Gelechiinae (including Anacampsinae, Anomologinae, Apatetrinae)
- AnacampsisAnacampsisAnacampsis is a genus of moth in the family Gelechiidae....
- AnomologaAnomologaAnomologa is a genus of moth in the family Gelechiidae....
- ApatetrisApatetrisApatetris is a genus of moth in the family Gelechiidae....
- BryotrophaBryotrophaBryotropha is a genus of the twirler moth family . Among these, it is placed in the tribe Anomologini of subfamily Gelechiinae; the tribe was formerly considered a distinct subfamily Anomologinae.-Selected species:...
- ChionodesChionodesChionodes is a genus of moths of the family Gelechiidae. Members of this group can be found in most parts of the world. Many species of this genus utilize Douglas-fir as a host plant for their larvae.-Species:Species in this genus include:...
- EphysterisEphysterisEphysteris is a genus of the twirler moth family . Among these, it is assigned to tribe Gnorimoschemini of the subfamily Gelechiinae. Even though it is a rather diverse and widespread group, most of these small and inconspicuous moths were overlooked by scientists until the early 20th century...
- GelechiaGelechiaGelechia is a genus of moth in the family Gelechiidae. The type species is Gelechia rhombella....
- MetzneriaMetzneriaMetzneria is a genus of moth in the family Gelechiidae.Species include:*Metzneria aestivella*Metzneria aprilella*Metzneria diamondi*Metzneria ehikeella*Metzneria infelix*Metzneria intestinella...
- PhthorimaeaPhthorimaeaPhthorimaea is a genus of moth in the family Gelechiidae. Species include the potato tuber moth, Phthorimaea operculella...
- PityoconaPityoconaPityocona is a small and little-known genus of the twirler moth family . Among these, it is believed to belong to subfamily Gelechiinae, but beyond that its relationships are still obscure....
Subfamily Pexicopiinae
- ChelophobaChelophobaChelophoba is a small and enigmatic genus of the twirler moth family . Among these, it is one of many lineages whose precise relationships are still obscure, though they are presumed to belong to the subfamily Pexicopiinae....
- EthmiopsisEthmiopsisEthmiopsis is a genus of the twirler moth family . Among these, it is assigned to subfamily Pexicopiinae.At least some of these moths are characterized by a short scape and a triangular tuft of short hairs on the tip of the second labial palp segment...
- PalumbinaPalumbinaPalumbina is a genus of moth in the family Gelechiidae.-External links:...
- PectinophoraPectinophoraPectinophora is a genus of moth in the family Gelechiidae. Perhaps the best known species is the Pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella....
- PexicopiaPexicopiaPexicopia is a genus of moth in the family Gelechiidae, it consists of only one species, the Hollyhock Seed Moth , which is found in Europe.The moths are on wing from July to August depending on the location....
– Hollyhock Seed Moth - SitotrogaSitotrogaSitotroga is a genus of moth in the family Gelechiidae.Species include:* Sitotroga cerealella – Angoumois Grain Moth...
Genera incertae sedis
Incertae sedis
, is a term used to define a taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Uncertainty at specific taxonomic levels is attributed by , , and similar terms.-Examples:*The fossil plant Paradinandra suecica could not be assigned to any...
(including Brachmiinae, Physoptilinae)
- BrachmiaBrachmiaBrachmia is a genus of the twirler moth family . Among these, it is sometimes placed in the subfamily Dichomeridinae. Other authors have used it as type genus of a distinct subfamily Brachmiinae...
(Dichomeridinae?) - DeoclonaDeoclonaDeoclona is a moth genus. It is here placed in family Gelechiidae, but its relationships therein are obscure and some authors instead ally it with the Autostichinae and/or Symmocidae and place it elsewhere in the Gelechioidea....
(not Gelechiidae?) - PhysoptilaPhysoptilaPhysoptila is a genus of moth in the family Gelechiidae....
- SyringopaisSyringopaisSyringopais is a moth genus. It is here placed in family Gelechiidae, but its relationships therein are obscure and some authors instead ally it with the Autostichinae and/or Symmocidae and place it elsewhere in the Gelechioidea....
(not Gelechiidae?)
External links
- Gelechiidae
- Gelechioidea Global Framework
- Gelechiidae Genera of the World - list of preliminary subfamily/tribe assignments
- http://www.mapress.com./zootaxa/2009/f/z02231p039f.pdf